CBD - Page 73 of 164 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on March 3, 2019March 3, 2019 by James — 2 Comments

Wells Fargo Consumer Redress Review Program

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced today that Wells Fargo has begun a consumer redress review program through which customers who have not already been made whole through other remediation programs can seek to have their inquiry or complaint reviewed by a Wells Fargo escalation team for possible relief.

The consumer redress review program was a key component of Wells Fargo’s overall $535 million settlement with New Jersey, 49 other states and the District of Columbia in 2018 to resolve claims that the bank violated state consumer protection laws through multiple unlawful actions.

Those actions included (1) opening millions of unauthorized accounts and enrolling customers into online banking services without their knowledge or consent, (2) improperly referring customers for enrollment in third-party renters and life insurance policies, (3) improperly charging auto loan customers for force-placed and unnecessary collateral protection insurance, (4) failing to ensure that customers received refunds of unearned premiums on certain optional auto finance guaranteed asset/auto protection (GAP) products, and (5) incorrectly charging customers for mortgage rate lock extension fees.

Posted on March 3, 2019March 2, 2019 by James — 7 Comments

New Jersey Voters Get What they wanted Higher Taxes and a Less Prosperous State

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Tax revenues are up 2.9% over prior year , but a 7.2% increase is needed to fund existing and new spending programs. Sales tax and Corporate Business Tax grew above projections (corporate tax revenues 47% higher than prior year).
So the target for tax increases will again be the Income Tax. Last year, the state passed a multi-millionaires tax, so that card has already been played.

At the current growth rate as detailed in that legislative services report, and not accounting for higher revenues in the second half of the fiscal year, the state would fall about $5 billion short of the $33.5 billion in major revenues certified by the governor. The Treasury Department declined to say what its current projection for the end of the year is, but the ratings agency S&P Global Ratings said it calculates a $740 million shortfall if the trend continues.

Posted on March 2, 2019March 2, 2019 by James — 13 Comments

Reader Warns of The Coming Ridgewood Restaurant Jobs Apocalypse

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Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood’s restaurants, the only draw left in the CBD with the digital-led demise of retail are about to be washed over by the same thing that is drowning NYC restaurants.

Now with the money losing garage ($1m/year) on the way bringing higher parking fees for diners and eaters alike, the village and the Dems they elected will not just kill the goose that laid the golden egg, there will be no one left to cook or serve it.

“December 2018 restaurant jobs were down by almost 3,000 (and by 1.64%) from the previous December,” wrote economist Mark Perry, “and the 2.5% annual decline in March 2018 was the worst annual decline since the sharp collapse in restaurant jobs following 9/11 in 2001.”

Posted on March 2, 2019March 2, 2019 by James — 8 Comments

Reader says ,”The council has quietly passed the ordinance without consulting any salon or spa”

It is unfortunate that the salons and spas were targeted. The council has quietly passed the ordinance without consulting any salon or spa, many owners in town have been open for decades too and could have been a valuable resource for this ordinance. The Ridgewood Guild and her Chamber of Commerce were not notified that this was on the calendar to discuss at a meeting either. The state inspects and a fee is paid for that inspection. Charging $150 for a duplicate regulation inspection is too much. It is expensive. What about the barber shoe and threading bars that have one person working all day ? 150 is not acceptable. A salon may have 11 chairs but 3 employees. When asked, the mayor, the council and the inspector could not (would not?) answer how many calls they get a year specific to the salons and spas, that were actual complaints. When asked, the mayor, the council and the inspector could not (would not?) answer what their actual cost would be to inspect a salon or spa. The fee that they came up with was dependent on what they see other towns like HACKENSACK doing. Although Fair Lawn has this fee and charges $35-$50. This ordinance needs to be amended.

Posted on February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 by James — 15 Comments

Is the Village of Ridgewood Anti Business ?

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, while Ridgewood salon owners and hairdressers complain about the new license fee , saying it’s just too much for their small businesses. Village officials, claim the fee ensures proper safety inspections. Ridgewood’s 45 barbershops, hairdressers, cosmetology parlors and nail salons are all assessed an annual fee , but this is part of a broader effort by the Village to get the central business district to pat for itself .

In years past we have heard complaints from restaurants of century old fees on ice makers .Shops in the Central Business District have also have been aggressively targeted by a ticket blitz which included tickets for failure to clear sidewalks of snow just hours before the Village had even cleared their own sidewalks and just minutes after Governor Murphy ended the state of emergency . Merchants also complain their cars are even being ticketed for momentarily double parking just to drop something off at their place of business .

Posted on February 27, 2019February 26, 2019 by James — 4 Comments

NJ Democrats Propose a “Parking Tax”

file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Prior to Monday’s voting session,Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick released the following statement on the Trenton Democrat’s plan to tax parking (A5070).

“Another voting session in Trenton, another new tax on hard-working New Jerseyans. Today it’s another new tax on parking your car. Last month it was the rain tax. The Democratic majority is tone-deaf to the financial burden place on average citizens.”

Posted on February 25, 2019February 24, 2019 by James — 3 Comments

Reader says , “These developments should have never been approved. Too much density”

” Ridgewood as we know and love it is gone. These developments should have never been approved. Too much density. The developers and their attorneys do not live here. Taxes will only go up due to the extra services needed and I do not believe that these apartments are geared to young professionals without children or retired people as they were pitched. Very short sighted decisions … “

Posted on February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Olive R Twist Olive Oil Co. – Join Us For Our Next Fun And Exciting Cooking Class With Sous Chef Melanie Bryant Of “From Scratch” Here In Ridgewood

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Join us for our next fun & exciting cooking demo on Feb. 27th @ 7pm. Sous Chef Melanie Bryant of ‘From Scratch” restaurant in Ridgewood has some amazing recipes in store for us! Starters include our own EVOO cocktail, Kale salad w/Chile Oil dressing, & Roasted Squash Hummus. Entrees include Mussels w/veggies in Creme Fraiche sauce & a stuffed vegetable w/Almond Oil & Saffron bread crumb topping
Where: Olive R Twist, 34 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood, NJ
Cost: $45.00

Posted on February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 by James — 7 Comments

Reader says , “To stuff so many apartments in a suburban area that’s already dense is terrible”

“To stuff so many apartments in a suburban area that’s already dense is terrible. The impact will be tremendous. I see all 3 sites (including what’s being built next to YMCA) along the tracks as I ride the train every morning. They will choke the whole look and feel of Ridgewood. Current residents who appreciated CBD will try to avoid it at any cost. What’s most concerning is who will occupy these apartments. Multi children families, section 8 recipients (if they can’t fill them up fast enough)? Will there be speculation? What other games are being considered to mess up RW?
It is so sad to see same faces who openly supported Aronsohn & Co show their happiness that things are moving along. Are they plain idiots or simply mean spirited? Their own quality of life is about to take a hit as well.”

Posted on February 23, 2019February 23, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Music For All Seasons- A Recital For Piano And Voice To Benefit The Florence Reinaur Memorial Scholorship Sponsored By The Ridgewood Choral

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Music for all Seasons-A recital for Piano and Voice to Benefit the Florence Reinaur Memorial Scholorship sponsored by the Ridgewood Choral

Featuring Dmitri Kochtcheev, Piano and Laura Van Orden, Mezzo Soprano

Sunday, February 24, 2019 starting at 3:00pm at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

$20 suggested donation

Posted on February 23, 2019February 23, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Reader says , “in NJ we are all screwed by the left wing state Supreme Court”

” I’ve lived here most of my life and I am not thrilled at the prospect of these new housing developments. Unfortunately in the people’s republic of new jerkey, any developer who does not get his way simply invokes the “mount laurel ” builders remedy lawsuit since we do not meet the affordable housing demands of the left wing NJ Supreme Court … And they could stuff in many more units .So either way we get “porked”. Let’s hope these developers don’t go broke with their pipe dream developments because anyone buying at foreclosure would stuff in any tenants at a cheaper rent than market which means more families with kids in school. I was against the apartments and still am opposed but in NJ we are all screwed by the left wing state Supreme Court . “

Posted on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019 by James — 9 Comments

Reader says ,” Current residents who appreciated CBD will try to avoid it at any cost. “

” To stuff so many apartments in a suburban area that’s already dense is terrible. The impact will be tremendous. I see all 3 sites (including what’s being built next to YMCA) along the tracks as I ride the train every morning. They will choke the whole look and feel of Ridgewood. Current residents who appreciated CBD will try to avoid it at any cost. What’s most concerning is who will occupy these apartments. Multi children families, section 8 recipients (if they can’t fill them up fast enough)? Will there be speculation? What other games are being considered to mess up RW?
It is so sad to see same faces who openly supported Aronsohn & Co show their happiness that things are moving along. Are they plain idiots or simply mean spirited? Their own quality of life is about to take a hit as well.”

Posted on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019 by James — 18 Comments

Reader says new ,”apartments will breath life back into our downtown” ie tattoo parlors , strip clubs and so on

file photo by Boyd Loving

“I agree these apartments will breath life back into our downtown. I see a future of more fast food joints, tattoo parlors, vape rooms and all sort of other steppingstones into the future. Its the vocalenti’s who don’t see the need for this development.

Yes, let’s not forget strip clubs! And bless those on the council who brought us to this land of milk and honeypots, and the vocal villagers who turned out to sing their praises and still offer apologies almost every day for them. “

Posted on February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Park West Tavern Will Be Renovating from February 25th to March 7th .

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Park West Loft will be opening to the public while the Park West Tavern is going through it’s renovations from Monday, February 25th through Thursday, March 7th.

Management says on Facebook that , “There will be some dates that we will be closed to the public for our Private Events.Please contact us for more details! We thank you all for your constant support and can not wait for you all to see the new updates! “

Posted on February 17, 2019February 17, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Co-Anchor of CBS2 This Morning & CBS2 At Noon, Mary Calvi, Will Be Appearing at Bookends

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Co-Anchor of CBS2 This Morning & CBS2 At Noon, Mary Calvi, will sign her new book: Dear George, Dear Mary, today from 2-3 pm .

Books must be purchased from Bookends Bookstore.

Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.

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